| By Rita Howell
Two defendants will be facing the Panola County Grand Jury in connection with a child’s stolen dirt bike. Appearing in Batesville Municipal Court on Wednesday was Derrick Johnson of 149 Jacksonview, Jackson, charged with grand larceny in the theft of a Honda XR59 motorcycle taken from James Campbell of Harmon Circle, Batesville. The cycle is valued at $1,500. He asked Judge Bill McKenzie to lower his bail.
"$2,500 is about as low as I can go for a felony charge," the judge said.
Johnson’s co-defendant, Carlton Johnson of Henry Heafner Rd., Batesville, has already bonded out of jail and also awaits action of the grand jury.
In another felony case bound for the grand jury, Harvey Lamb of 390 Sycamore Rd., Coldwater, is charged with forged prescription.
Other cases
Judge McKenzie dismissed a charge of discharging a firearm in the city limits filed against Christopher "Woogie" Whitten of 117 Hoskins Road, Batesville. Whitten said he did not shoot a gun on the night of March 12 in the Field Street area, as he was charged. Police officers testified that they had received two phone calls reporting the incident and accusing Whitten of firing the gun. When the witness who reported the shooting did not appear in court to testify, Judge McKenzie dismissed the charge.
Lawrence Kuykendall Jr. of 168 M. Flowers Rd., Batesville, said an emotional testimony that he was not guilty of public drunk and disorderly conduct stemming from an incident at King’s Grocery on March 8.
"I’m the one that called the police," Kuykendall said.
An argument had ensued between Kuykendall and Willie Reed over a borrowed cooking pot. Police officers testified that tempers flared and both men were arrested. Reed subsequently pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct, but not guilty to public drunk, and that charge was remanded to the court files.
Judge McKenzie ruled that the police acted properly, but did not impose a fine for the charges.
A third charge, simple assault, filed against Kuykendall following a September incident by Anthony House, was dismissed when the affiant did not appear to prosecute the case.
DUI
Roderick Sanford of 1303 Hentz Rd., Pope, pleaded guilty to DUI (first offense) and careless driving. He was fined $826 and enrolled in driving school to shorten the time of his driver’s license suspension from one year to 90 days.
Simple assault
Latasha Flowers of 113 Cole Dr., Batesville, pleaded guilty to simple assault on a charge filed by Gwen Parker. The incident occurred at It’s Fashion on February 24. Flowers was fined $255.
Contempt of Court
Drexsude Brassell of 3294 Nash Rd., Batesville, was assigned to eight days in the city work release program to satisfy fines of $299 which he has owed to the City of Batesville since 2000.
Charles Alexander of Brandon was in court to face a contempt of court charge for fines of $1,827 he has owed since 2001. He was sentenced to the time he served in jail awaiting his court appearance, and the remainder of the 60-day sentence was suspended.
Cases continued
Judge McKenzie set April 13 as a trial date for Tiffany Jackson of 202 Gordon Dr., Batesville, who pleaded not guilty to a charge of simple assault.
Jeremy Lee of 11-B Otto Sanford Rd., Courtland, pleaded not guilty to a charge of trespassing and the case will be tried on April 13.
Also on April 13 James Turner of 104 Jackson St., Batesville, will be tried on a charge of public drunk. He pleaded not guilty in Wednesday’s court session.
Continued until the April 6 city court session was the case of Vallene Owens of 115 Nikki Dr., Senatobia, charged with contempt of court for failure to pay a fine of $300 imposed in September, 2004.
Tickets
Andrea House of 306 Arizona, Batesville, pleaded guilty to speeding and was enrolled in a defensive driving course, offered to young drivers to keep tickets from being reported on their records. Completion of the course also means the fine is forgiven.
A second charge of no driver’s license was dismissed when House showed the judge that she has gotten her license reinstated.
Earnest Lee Porter of 112 Clinton St., Batesville, pleaded guilty to no driver’s license and was fined $265.
Charlene Smith of 115 Autumn, Batesville, presented proof that she had obtained insurance for her vehicle after she was charged with having no proof of insurance on March 21. She was fined $310 for the current charge and an old fine she owed.
Ursula Denman of 805 E. Chestnut, Charleston, had her work program sentence extended for 10 days following her absence last week from her assigned job.
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